Quillaja is a genus of flowering plants, the only extant genus in the family Quillajaceae with two or three known species.[1] It was once thought to be in the rose family, Rosaceae,[2] but recent research shows it belongs in its own family. The inner bark of the soap bark tree (Q. saponaria) contains saponin, which is a natural soap. Members of this genus are trees that grow to about 25 metres (82 ft).

Quillaja
Quillaja saponaria
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Quillajaceae
Genus: Quillaja
Molina
Species

See text

Distribution of the Quillajaceae
Synonyms

Fontenellea A.St.-Hil. & Tul.

Species

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The species were revised by Federico Luebert in 2014:[3]

Image Name Distribution
  Quillaja brasiliensis (A.St.-Hil. & Tul.) Mart. Brazil
  Quillaja saponaria Molina central Chile in the forests of La Campana National Park and Cerro La Campana

References

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  1. ^ Christenhusz, M. J. M. & Byng, J. W. (2016). "The number of known plants species in the world and its annual increase". Phytotaxa. 261 (3): 201–217. doi:10.11646/phytotaxa.261.3.1.
  2. ^ "Description and images of Quillaja saponaria (Quillay), a native Chilean plant, provided by the supplier of native exotic Chilean seeds". chileflora.com. Retrieved 2014-06-11.
  3. ^ Luebert, F. (2014). "The taxonomy and distribution of the genus Quillaja Molina (Quillajaceae". Feddes Repertorium. 124 (4): 157–162. doi:10.1002/fedr.201400029.